Method and apparatus for reprogramming a programmed controller of a power driven wheelchair

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for reprogramming a programmed controller of a power driven wheelchair comprises: a reprogrammable, non-volatile memory programmed with a plurality of programs executable by the controller to operate the wheelchair, the non-volatile memory disposed at the wheelchair and coupled to the wheelchair controller; a general-purpose computer programmed to reprogram the non-volatile memory while disposed at the wheelchair, the programmed computer for storing main programs for use in reprogramming the non-volatile memory, the programmed computer being coupleable to the wheelchair controller for accommodating an exchange of data therebetween; and wherein the wheelchair controller being operative to communicate with the programmed computer to reprogram the non-volatile memory with the main programs while the non-volatile memory is disposed at the wheelchair. Methods for reprogramming the non-volatile memory are also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to the field of power drivenwheelchairs, in general, and more particularly, to a method andapparatus for reprogramming a programmed controller of a power drivenwheelchair.

Power driven wheelchairs which may be of the type manufactured byInvacare Corporation of Elyria, Ohio, for example, generally includeright and left side drive wheels driven by a motor controller viarespectively corresponding right and left side drive motors, all ofwhich being disposed on the wheelchair. An exemplary illustration ofsuch a motor drive arrangement is shown in the schematic of FIG. 1.Referring to FIG. 1, a motor drive controller 10 which may be anInvacare MK IV™ controller, for example, controls drive motors 12 and 14which are mechanically linked respectively to the right side and leftside drive wheels of the wheelchair. The controller 10 includes amicrocontroller 15 which may be programmed with a plurality of driveprograms, each suited for a particular operating environment of thewheelchair.

A user interface 16 which may include a joystick 18 and selectionswitches (not shown) operable by a user is also disposed on thewheelchair in a convenient location to the user. The user interface 16is generally interfaced to the microcontroller 15 over a two wire serialcoupling 20 to permit the user to select a drive program appropriate foroperating the wheelchair in its environment and to adjust the directionand speed of the wheelchair within the selected drive program. In thepresent example, a main program of the microcontroller 15 which maycontain the plurality of drive programs is stored in a non-volatilememory 19, like a read only memory (ROM), for example, which may beintegrated into the microcontroller 15 or may be a separate componentthereof.

The motor controller 10 is generally powered by a battery source 22,which may be 24 volts, for example, also disposed on the wheelchair. Thedrive motors 12 and 14 may be of the permanent magnet type and may beeither a gearless, brushless AC motor or a brush type DC motor. Themicrocontroller 15 is interfaced and responsive to the user interface 16to control drive signals 24 and 26 to motors 12 and 14, respectively,via a power switching arrangement configured in accordance with themotor type being driven. The power switching arrangement may be poweredby the 24V battery 22. Thus, as the user adjusts the speed and directionof the wheelchair via the joystick of interface 16, appropriate drivesignals 24 and 26 are controlled by motor controller 10 viamicrocontroller 15 to drive the motors 12 and 14 accordingly.

Motor controller 10 generally controls motor speed to the user settingutilizing a closed loop controller programmed in the microcontroller 15.Actual speed of each motor 12 and 14 may be derived from signals 28 and30 respectively sensed therefrom. For example, for AC motors, a HallEffect sensor may be disposed at the motor for sensing and generating asignal representative of angular position. The signals 28 and 30 arecoupled to the microcontroller 15 which may be programmed to derivemotor speed from a change in angular position for use as the actualspeed feedback signal for the closed loop speed control of the motor.For DC motors, the voltage Va across the armature and armature currentIa may be sensed from each motor 12 and 14 and provided to themicrocontroller 15 via lines 28 and 30, respectively. Microcontroller 15may under programmed control derive the actual speed of each motor 12and 14 from the respective voltage Va and current Ia measurementsthereof for use as the speed feedback signal for the respective closedloop speed control of each motor 12 and 14.

In addition, interaction with the motor controller 10 is performedthrough a remote programmer 34 which may be electrically coupled to aport of the microcontroller 15 via signal lines 36, for example. Eachremote programmer 34 may include a screen 38 for displaying interactivetext and graphics and a plurality of pushbuttons 40 for communicatingwith the microcontroller 15 which is programmed to interact with theprogrammer 34. A dealer is generally provided with one or more remoteprogrammers for rendering the wheelchair unique to the user's safeoperating capabilities.

From time to time, the non-volatile ROM 19 may have to be reprogrammedand/or updated to more recent program versions which may be accomplishedeither in the field or at the factory or a service center. In some motorcontrollers, the programmed ROM 19 may be embodied in an integratedcircuit or chip, either as part of the microcontroller 15 or separatetherefrom. In these cases, the chip containing the programmed ROM 19 isremovably disposed in a socket of a printed circuit (PC) card of themotor controller assembly 10. If the ROM 19 has to be reprogrammed orupdated, the chip is removed from the socket and sent to the factory orauthorized service center for processing. This renders the wheelchairout of service for an undesirable period of time.

Alternatively, some wheelchair dealerships are equipped with specializedconverters and programming devices which permit reprogramming orupdating of programs of the ROM 19 on the PC card. Generally, thisprocess is not performed by a lay person, but rather performed by askilled technician employed by the dealership. In these instances, thecost of the specialized equipment and skilled technician is borne by thedealership.

The dealers would prefer servicing the wheelchair themselves withouthaving to send components back to the factory or service centers forreprogramming and/or updating of operational programs. However, theexpense of the specialized equipment and employment of a skilledtechnician for performing this service is quite onerous to the dealer.Accordingly, it is desirable to simplify the process of reprogrammingand/or updating the operational programs of the wheelchair at least tothe point where it may be performed by a lay person. The presentinvention satisfies this desire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, apparatus forreprogramming a programmed controller of a power driven wheelchaircomprises: a reprogrammable, non-volatile memory programmed with aplurality of programs executable by the controller to operate thewheelchair, the non-volatile memory disposed at the wheelchair andcoupled to the wheelchair controller; a general-purpose computerprogrammed to reprogram the non-volatile memory while disposed at thewheelchair, the programmed computer for storing main programs for use inreprogramming the non-volatile memory; means for coupling the programmedcomputer to the wheelchair controller for accommodating an exchange ofdata therebetween; and wherein the wheelchair controller being operativeto communicate with the programmed computer through the coupling meansto reprogram the non-volatile memory with the main programs while thenon-volatile memory is disposed at the wheelchair.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method ofreprogramming a programmed controller of a power driven wheelchaircomprises the steps of: coupling a reprogrammable, non-volatile memoryprogrammed with a plurality of programs to the wheelchair controller;determining if the plurality of programs of the non-volatile memory areto be reprogrammed; coupling a programmed computer to the wheelchaircontroller based on the result of the determining step, the computerbeing programmed to reprogram the non-volatile memory through thewheelchair controller; displaying an interactive programming screenimage on a display of the programmed computer; and interacting with theprogramming screen image to control reprogramming the non-volatilememory through the wheelchair controller.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a methodof reprogramming a programmed controller of a power driven wheelchaircomprises the steps of: partitioning a reprogrammable, non-volatilememory into at least two sections; programming one section of thenon-volatile memory with a boot program executable by the wheelchaircontroller; programming another section of the non-volatile memory withmain programs executable by the wheelchair controller to operate thewheelchair; executing the boot program by the wheelchair controller todetermine if the main programs of the non-volatile memory are to bereprogrammed; coupling a programming device to the wheelchair controllerbased on the result of the determination; and interacting with theprogramming device to control a reprogramming of the main programs ofthe non-volatile memory through the wheelchair controller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematic of an exemplary motor drivearrangement of a power driven wheelchair including a programmedmicrocontroller.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematic of apparatus for reprogramming themicrocontroller suitable for embodying the principles of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an exemplary joy stick unit suitable foruse in the embodiment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematic of a sectioned non-volatile flashmemory suitable for use in the embodiment of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 5A and 5B (collectively FIG. 5) depict a flow chart of anexemplary boot program suitable for being programmed in a section of thenon-volatile flash memory of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an exemplary interactive screen image of apersonal computer suitable for use in reprogramming the flash memory ofFIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematic of reprogramming apparatus suitablefor embodying the principles of the present invention. Referring to FIG.2, a reprogrammable non-volatile memory 50 which may be a programmablesystem device (PSD) or flash memory, for example, is coupled to themicrocontroller 15 via address (A), data (D) and control (C) linesthereof. The flash memory 50 may be integrated within the integratedcircuit or chip of the microcontroller 15 or contained on a separatechip which may be of the type manufactured by ST Microelectronics underthe model no. PSD913F2, for example. The flash memory 50 is initiallyprogrammed at the factory.

The flash memory 50 may be reprogrammed in the field while soldered inplace on the PC board of the microcontroller 15. Thus, no specialconnector or programming device is needed. The flash memory 50 may bereprogrammed using a similar process to reprogramming an electricallyerasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), except that the flashmemory may be reprogrammed at a much faster rate. For example, an EEPROMis generally reprogrammed at a rate of about one byte of memory per tenmilliseconds. Thus, for tens of thousands of bytes of memory,reprogramming of an EEPROM takes a very long time. However, the flashmemory 50 may be reprogrammed at a rate of approximately one byte perthirty microseconds or approximately thirty-two bytes per onemillisecond, thereby shortening the reprogramming period by orders ofmagnitudes as will become more evident from the description hereinbelow.

The flash memory 50 may be partitioned into two memory sections as shownin the illustration of FIG. 4. One section 52 of memory 50 stores afirst or boot program, and the other section 54 stores a second or mainprogram which comprises the drive and application programs for operatingthe wheelchair. The memory registers of the main program 54 may besectioned into a plurality of pages with each page containing thousandsof registers, each for containing a byte of data. For example, the mainprogram may be sectioned into 7 pages of registers as shown in FIG. 4with each page containing sixteen thousand byte registers, each byteregister including eight bits. Coded words may be stored inpredetermined registers of the main program section for use indetermining if the main program is complete and acceptable for executionby the microcontroller 15.

In the present embodiment, a coded word is stored in the last byteregister of each page of the main program as a signature byte foranalysis. Thus, the byte registers of the non-volatile flash memory 50may be programmed a page at a time with the signature coded wordprogrammed in the last byte register for each page. Accordingly, if aproperly coded word is found in the last byte register of a page in theflash memory, then it is presumed that all of the preceding byteregisters were programmed properly. It is understood that signaturecoded words may be programmed into other byte registers of memory 50without deviating from the broad principles of the present invention.

In an alternate embodiment, a coded word representative of a check sumvalue of all of the registers of the main program section may be loadedinto one or more predetermined byte registers of the main program.Accordingly, the microcontroller 15 may execute the boot program to addup all of the values of the byte register contents of the main programsection and compare the total value with the check sum value in thepredetermined byte registers. In this alternate embodiment, the checksum value is intended to cover all of the main program registers, but itis understood that the main program section may be broken down intosubsections or pages just as well. In which case, a coded wordrepresentative of a check sum value for each page may be loaded into apredetermined register or registers of the page, for example. Thus,execution of the boot program would result in adding up the values ofthe byte register contents of each page and comparing each total valuewith the corresponding check sum value of each page to determine if themain program is complete.

In yet another embodiment, the coded word may be representative of acyclic redundancy check (CRC) value. In this embodiment, the bootprogram may include an algorithm for performing a CRC of the registersof the main program which results in a rather unique value which may becompared to the CRC coded word contained in the predetermined registersof the main program section. Similarly, the main program section may bebroken down into subsections or pages just as well. In which case, acoded word representative of a CRC value for each page may be loadedinto a predetermined register or registers of each page,correspondingly. Thus, execution of the boot program would result inperforming the CRC algorithm on the byte register contents of each pageand comparing each calculated CRC value with the corresponding CRC valueof each page to determine if the main program is complete.

In the present embodiment, upon power-up of the microcontroller 15,program execution starts in the boot program of section 52, adescription of which being provided herein below in connection with theexemplary flow chart of FIG. 5. During execution of the boot program,the microcontroller 15 accesses the data of predetermined registers fromthe main program section of memory 50, which may be the last byteregisters of the pages, for example, and determines if the accessedregisters contain the respective proper code words CW1, CW2, . . . ,CW7. If any of the accessed registers does not contain the proper codeword, which may be all zeros, for example, then, the microcontroller 15presumes that the main program has been loaded into the flash memoryimproperly and shuts down, i.e. does not permit execution of the mainprogram. Otherwise, program execution diverts to the main program forproper operation of the wheelchair. Some or all of the main program maybe stored in a temporary memory 53 which may be integrated into themicrocontroller 15.

In the present embodiment, when the boot program shuts down, it entersinto a wait loop waiting for commands to reprogram the non-volatileflash memory 50. These reprogramming commands may be directed to themicrocontroller 15 through the user interface 16 which may be a joystick unit, for example. An exemplary joy stick unit 16 suitable for usein the embodiment of FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 3, theunit 16 includes the joy stick 18 and further comprises a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) 55, a drive select on/off switch 56, a speed control 58, acharger/programming port 60, the serial communication cable 20 having aconnector 62 at one end, an optional drive select port 64, and a remoteon/off port 66. When the boot program is in the wait loop, nothing willbe displayed on the LCD 55 of the joy stick unit 16 which is anindication that reprogramming of the flash memory 50 is needed.

To initiate the reprogramming process of the flash memory 50, aprogramming device, like a general purpose personal computer (PC) 70,for example, may be connected to the microcontroller 15. Since themicrocontroller 15 is already programmed to interface with the userinterface 16, i.e. to receive and respond to commands therefrom asdescribed herein above in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1, itis convenient to couple the PC 70 to the microcontroller 15 through theuser interface 16. For this purpose, a serial communication cable 72 mayconnect a serial port of the PC 70 to the charger/programming port 60 ofthe unit 16. The PC 70 may be a lap top unit, for example, having a keyboard 74 and a display screen 76, and programmed to reprogram the flashmemory 50 through the microcontroller 15. The PC 70 may be loaded withthe appropriate main program for the flash memory 50 based on theproduct code and/or version code of the motor controller of the wheelchair. The loading of this main program file into the PC 70 may beaccomplished through a number of different ways, including downloadingthe main program file from a compact disk memory or a memory diskettesupplied from the manufacturer, for example.

The appropriate main program file may even be downloaded from themanufacturer's website utilizing a communication connection through amodem 78 which may be coupled externally to the PC 70 over a cable 80 orbe integrated into the PC 70. More specifically, the dealer may connectto the manufacturer's website via the modem 78 and, interacting throughscreen 76 and keyboard 74, enter the product code and/or version codefor the most recent version of the main program for the flash memory 50.Through an interactive process with the PC 70, either over the web orthrough a compact disk or diskette memory, the dealer may select,download and communicate the downloaded main program to themicrocontroller 15 which stores the received main program into a memoryfile of temporary memory 53, for example, for use in reprogramming themain program registers of the flash memory 50. An exemplary displayscreen suitable for use in reprogramming the flash memory 50 will bedescribed herein below in connection with the illustration of FIG. 6.

In addition, there may be times when the dealer desires to update themain program code of the flash memory 50 to a more recent version. Forthis purpose, during execution of the main program 54, a polling of theprogramming port 60 of the user interface unit 16 is performed by themicrocontroller 15 to determine whether or not a command is present toupdate the program stored in the flash memory 50. For example, the PC 70may be connected to the user interface 16 via cable 72 and may issue aprogram update command to the microcontroller 15 through the userinterface 16. When the microcontroller 15 receives a command to eitherreprogram or update the program code of the flash memory 50, it directsprogram execution to an erase and loading program which may be in theboot section of the flash memory 50.

Thus, to reprogram or update the programs of the flash memory 50, anindividual may connect the PC 70 to the programming port 60 of the joystick unit 16 utilizing the serial communication cable 72 and then enterinto a flash memory programming program which is installed on the PC 70.Upon entering the flash memory programming program, proper programmingcommands are communicated to the microcontroller 15 which responds byentering into the erase and loading program of the boot programs. Aninteractive image display will also appear on the display screen 76 toaid the individual in programming the flash memory 50. An example of aninteractive display screen for programming is shown in FIG. 6. Note thatthe individual need only follow the steps of the interactive screenimage. Selections through the screen display may be performed bymovement of a cursor to the proper position on the screen and depressionof a key or activation device, for example.

For example, if the program file is being downloaded from a memorydevice inserted into a d:\controller of the PC 70, then the individualmay select the proper file from a window 100 as exemplified by thehighlighted file “MS5_(—)9S12”. Upon selection, all of the programs ofthe file MS5_(—)9S12 are displayed for selection in a window 102. Theindividual may then select the proper main program from the window 102as exemplified by the highlighted program “m5gb3v56.s19”. Note that theselected program is also shown in window 103. In step 2, the individualmay select the proper COM port for communicating with themicrocontroller 15. In the present example, COM port 1 is selected asexemplified by the dot displayed in the circle 104.

In step 3, the individual may select the “File” window 106, and inresponse the PC 70 will display in windows 108 and 110 the product codeand version, respectively, of the selected main program “m5gb3v56.s19”.In step 3, the PC 70 will also display text at position 112 to verifythat the main program file has been read in from the memory device andstored into the memory of the PC 70. Then, in step 4, the individual mayselect the “Controller” window 114, and in response the PC 70 willcommunicate with the microcontroller 15 via user interface 16 to read inthe product code and version of the main program currently existing inthe flash memory 50. This information is then displayed in windows 116and 118, respectively. In step 4, the PC 70 will also display text atposition 120 to indicate that it has successfully connected to themicrocontroller 15 and is ready for programming the flash memory 50 withthe selected program file. Note that if the product and version codesare the same for both the selected and current main programs, then noupdating may be needed. Also, if the product code does not match or thefile is an earlier version, updating may be prevented.

In step 5, the individual may select “Program Flash” at window 122 toinitiate the programming of the flash memory with the selected mainprogram file. During the initial steps of the programming process, theregisters of each of the seven pages of the flash memory main programare erased via the erasing and loading program executed by themicrocontroller 15 and the status of erasure of the seven pages isdetermined by the PC 70 and displayed at position 124 on the interactivescreen. Then, as the main program of the flash memory 50 is programmed,the status of the programming is determined and displayed in a window124. This status may be displayed both as a thermometer bar as shown andthrough text of how many records of the total records have been writteninto the main program section 54 of the flash memory 50. A percentage ofmemory programmed may also be displayed in text in window 124.

Thus, the exemplary screen image of FIG. 6 will indicate to theindividual through window 124 when programming is complete. In thepresent embodiment, the baud rate for communicating the selected mainprogram to the memory 53 of the microcontroller 15 for programming is onthe order of 9600 baud. Accordingly, at eight bits per byte, theprogramming of the flash memory 50 at this rate will be approximatelythree and a half minutes. Of course, at a higher communication baudrate, the programming time will be reduced. Thus, the programming timeis only limited by the rate at which the flash memory 50 may beprogrammed which is on the order of a byte per thirty microseconds, forexample.

When programming of the flash memory 50 with the selected main programfile is completed, then the boot program may be re-executed by themicrocontroller 15 to check if the signature coded words were properlyloaded into the last byte registers of each page of the main programsection 54. If all of the signature coded words are proper, thenexecution is diverted to the main program for operation of thewheelchair. Otherwise, the boot program will again enter into the waitloop and wait for reprogramming instructions.

A flowchart of an exemplary boot program suitable for use in theembodiment described in connection with FIG. 2 is depicted in FIG. 5.Referring to FIGS. 5, as the microcontroller 15 is powered up, theexemplary boot program starts execution at block B1. In the successiveblock B2, the boot program initializes certain of the microcontrollerregisters to configure or set up the microcontroller 15 for a particularapplication. In block B4, the boot program accesses the contents fromthe last byte registers of the seven pages of the main program loaded inthe flash memory 50 (see FIG. 4). In decision block B6, the accessedword of each page is compared with its respective code word CW1–CW7, andif all of the accessed words are correct, program execution is continuedat block B8 wherein the main program is initialized and started.

During the execution of the main program as represented by block B10,the serial port of the microcontroller 15 into which the serial cable 20is coupled is polled or monitored for programming commands. If data isdetermined to be present at the serial port, then in block B12, the datais read into the microcontroller 15 and analyzed in block B14. If inblock B14, it is determined that the data is a command from the PC 70 toupdate or reprogram the main program of the flash memory 50, thenprogram execution is diverted to the erase and load program of the bootprograms starting at block B20. Otherwise, program execution continuesin the main program of block B10. The erase and load program is alsoinitiated at block B20 if it is determined in block B6 that any of theaccessed words from the pages of the main program in the flash memory 50is mismatched with its respective code word CW1–CW7.

In the boot programs, the erase and load program starts at block 20wherein the receive baud rate of the serial port of the microcontroller15 is increased to 9600 baud, for example. Thereafter, in block B22, theprogram waits to receive serial command data from the PC 70. As shown inthe flowchart, the combination of blocks B22–B28 constitute a wait loopwhich is continuously executed until data is received. When data isreceived at the serial port of the microcontroller 15, the received datais analyzed by the program in decisional blocks B24, B26 and B28. If thedata is determined in block B24 to be an erase page X command, where Xmay be any integer from 1 to 7, for example, then the contents of page Xof the main program is erased by the instructions of block B30. When theerasure of the page contents is complete, data representative of erasurecompletion is sent back over the cable 20 to the PC 70 by theinstructions of block B32. Thereafter, program execution is divertedback to block B22 awaiting receipt of the next data or command from thePC 70.

If the data is not an erasure command, but rather a record or load newdata command, then it is identified by block B26. In the presentembodiment, when new data is to be loaded into the main program of theflash memory 50, the first byte of a serial string of data bytescontains the character “S” and the second byte contains the numeral “2”.Accordingly, when “S” and then “2” are identified in the first andsecond bytes of the byte string in decisional block B26, then a recordbuffer of memory 53 is cleared in block 34 and a record enable flag isset true in block B36.

With the record enable flag set true, decision block B28 diverts programexecution to block B38 wherein each of the subsequent characters of thestring of data words are added to the record buffer. In the presentembodiment, the serially received string of data words are in a standardASCII format wherein a byte of data comprises two ASCII character bytes.That is, the first character byte contains the first four bits of thedata byte and the second character byte contains the last four bits ofthe data byte. For this example, each string of data comprises 128 ASCIIcharacter bytes followed by one or more bytes of check sum error code.Also, contained within the data word string is a starting address of amain program portion of the flash memory into which the data string isto be loaded. The string of data from the PC 70 continues to be receivedby the microcontroller 15 and added to the buffer memory until thebuffer is fully loaded as determined by block B40.

Thereafter, the check sum error code of the data string is analyzed bythe instructions of block B42. If it is determined in block B42 that thethere is an error in transmission of the instant data stream, then adata word representing bad record data sent is transmitted back to PC 70over the cable 20 by the instructions of block B44 and the record enableflag is set false in block B46. Program execution is then returned toblock B22. If the check sum error code is determined to be correct byblock B42, then in block B48 the main program section of the flashmemory is loaded with the buffered string of data starting at theaddress specified in the data string. When the loading of data into themain program section of the flash memory is complete, datarepresentative of programming complete is transmitted by block B50 overthe serial cable 20 to the PC 70 and the record enable flag is set falsein block B46.

The foregoing described process for reprogramming the main program ofthe flash memory 50 will continue for a multiplicity of data stringtransmissions from the PC 70 to the microcontroller 15 until the mainprogram is updated or reprogramming is complete. Thereafter, the bootprogram will be executed starting at block B2.

While the present invention has been described herein above inconnection with one or more embodiments, it is understood that suchdescriptions are provided merely by way of example. Accordingly, thepresent invention should not be limited by any of the foregoingdescribed embodiments, but rather construed in breadth and broad scopein accordance with the recitation of the claims appended hereto.

1. Apparatus for reprogramming a programmed controller of a power drivenwheelchair, said apparatus comprising: a reprogrammable, non-volatilememory programmed with a plurality of programs, including drive andapplication programs executable by said controller to operate saidwheelchair, said non-volatile memory disposed at said wheelchair andcoupled to said wheelchair controller; a general-purpose computerprogrammed to reprogram said non-volatile memory while disposed at saidwheelchair, said programmed computer for storing replacement programsuse in reprogramming said drive and application programs of thenon-volatile memory; means for coupling said programmed computer to saidwheelchair controller for accommodating an exchange of datatherebetween; and wherein said wheelchair controller being operative tocommunicate with said programmed computer through said coupling means toreprogram said drive and application programs of the non-volatile memorywith said replacement programs while said non-volatile memory isdisposed at said wheelchair.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein thenon-volatile memory includes predetermined memory locations for storingcoded words; and wherein the wheelchair controller is operative toexecute one of the programs of the plurality of programs stored in thenon-volatile memory to determine if the drive and application programsof the plurality are acceptable for execution based on said coded wordsstored in said predetermined memory locations.
 3. The apparatus of claim2 wherein the one program is executed by the wheelchair controller uponbeing powered up.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein during theexecution of the one program, if the drive and application programs aredetermined to be unacceptable for execution, the wheelchair controlleris operative to enter a wait loop waiting for reprogramming data fromthe programmed computer.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein during theexecution of the one program, if the drive and application programs aredetermined to be acceptable, the wheelchair controller is permitted todivert program execution to the drive and application programs stored inthe non-volatile memory to operate the wheelchair.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein during the execution of the the drive and applicationprograms, the wheelchair controller is operative to monitor ifreprogramming data is being communicated thereto through the couplingmeans.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the non-volatile memorycomprises a flash memory.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein thegeneral-purpose programmed computer comprises a personal computer. 9.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the coupling means comprises a joystickunit of the wheelchair, said joystick unit being coupled to thewheelchair controller and operative to communicate therewith foroperating the wheelchair.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein theprogrammed computer is coupled to the wheelchair controller though acharger port of the joystick unit for communicating reprogramming datawith the wheelchair controller bit serially from a communication portthereof.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a joystickunit, said joystick unit being coupled to the wheelchair controller andoperative to communicate therewith; and wherein the programmed computeris configured to be removably coupled to the joystick unit by thecommunication channel, the programmed computer thereby communicatingreprogramming data with the wheelchair controller via the joystick unit.12. Apparatus for reprogramming a programmed controller of a powerdriven wheelchair, said apparatus comprising: a reprogrammable memoryincluding drive and application programs executable by said controllerto operate said wheelchair, said memory coupled to said wheelchaircontroller; a general-purpose computer programmed to reprogram saidmemory, said programmed computer for storing replacement programs foruse in reprogramming said drive and application programs of the memory;means for coupling said programmed computer to said wheelchaircontroller for accommodating an exchange of data therebetween; andwherein said wheelchair controller being operative to communicate withsaid programmed computer through said coupling means to reprogram saiddrive and application programs of the memory with said replacementprograms.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the reprogrammablememory comprises a programmable system device.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 12 wherein the reprogrammable memory includes a first and secondmemory section, a boot program being stored on said first memory sectionand drive and application programs being stored on said second memorysection.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the general purposecomputer is configured to download said replacement programs from acompact disk memory or memory diskette for use in reprogramming thereprogrammable memory.
 16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the generalpurpose computer is configured to download said replacement programsfrom an internet website for use in reprogramming the reprogrammablememory.
 17. Apparatus for reprogramming a programmed controller of apower driven wheelchair, said apparatus comprising: a reprogrammable,non-volatile memory programmed with a plurality of programs, includingdrive and application programs executable by said controller to operatesaid wheelchair, said non-volatile memory disposed at said wheelchairand coupled to said wheelchair controller; a general-purpose computerprogrammed to reprogram said non-volatile memory while disposed at saidwheelchair, said programmed computer for storing replacement programsfor use in reprogramming said drive and application programs of thenon-volatile memory; a communication channel for coupling saidprogrammed computer to said wheelchair controller for accommodating anexchange of data therebetween; and wherein said wheelchair controllerbeing operative to communicate with said programmed computer throughsaid communication channel to reprogram said drive and applicationprograms of the non-volatile memory with said replacement programs whilesaid non-volatile memory is disposed at said wheelchair.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 17 wherein the non-volatile memory includespredetermined memory locations for storing coded words; and wherein thewheelchair controller is operative to execute one of the programs of theplurality of programs stored in the non-volatile memory to determine ifthe drive and application programs of the plurality are acceptable forexecution based on said coded words stored in said predetermined memorylocations.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein during the execution ofthe drive and application programs, the wheelchair controller isoperative to monitor if reprogramming data is being communicated theretothrough the communication channel.
 20. The apparatus of claim 17 whereinthe non-volatile memory comprises a flash memory.